Broken Angels by Richard K. Morgan: A Review
I can still remember the first time I saw Blade Runner. At the time, I didn't have a single clue that the movie derived from a novel. I'll admit I was a novice with Philip Dick's work, and it was only after I'd read the credits at the beginning of my seventh time seeing Blade Runner did I realize my error.
As it was, because I hadn't read the book first, I took Blade Runner at face value. Watching Harrison Ford fall for an android and witnessing the one thing he was sent to slay, save him, and thus redeeming and arguing (at least to me), the desire to be allowed to "exist."
So, when I came across Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan, I felt those same shivers of joy and a strong wave of nostalgia crash into me. For those not familiar with Altered Carbon, let me just say that this novel sank in its hook and hung me out to dry. Left dangling and unable to free myself from its clutches, I read Altered Carbon in a matter of hours--not days, hours.
Morgan's Takeshi Kovacs was a man I wanted to give my entire being, but for only one night. I couldn't quite trust him, and that made me want to watch everything he did...
Which kept me reading. It was Ghost in the Shell:Stand Alone Complex, Morgan style. Cyberpunk with a mystery twist--as a lover of both genres, this was heaven on earth.
The story was fast paced and action packed. This cyberpunk/mystery hybrid fed all of my favorite genres' mouths with one thick serving of superb writing, sharp dialogue (eat your heart out Robert B. Parker) and a mystery with so many freakin' turns, my neck hurt from the whiplash.
And it was with a happiness and glee that I purchased, Broken Angels, the second Takeshi Kovacs title. This time, Morgan had transplanted Kovacs to a war in another part of the solar system. Kovacs is in a different sleeve (body) and is still up to his usual ways.
Sort of.
Like its predecessor, Broken Angels contains sharp dialogue, action sequences to die for and a charismatic lead character with sex appeal to subtle and potent it's a weapon in and of itself. Kovacs remains a man to watch--closely. He's untrustworthy and switches sides as he seems fit and it solely looking out for number one (in most cases). He's got his own moral code to which he follows rigidly. The fact that he has a code at all endures him to this reader.
I love a good mystery, and Morgan sets up a very good one in Broken Angels. I kept reading, and hoping with devoted longings the story would make good on the superb Martian artifact and Kovac's wiliness.
Unfortunately, without the on-going mystery noir element of Altered Carbon, Broken Angels falls a bit flat.Though the very mention of Kovacs was hook enough for me, the complete shift from Kovacs the hired private investigator to Kovacs the hired soldier shouldn't have been too difficult a transition, Morgan somehow loses the thread of the tale right around the middle of the book.
Alas, when the novel finally arrives at its climax, I'm a bit let down. The story transitions from its cyberpunk roots to a true/blue alien science fiction story, one straight out of Star Trek.
Don't get me wrong. I love Star Trek and consider myself a Trekkie at heart.
However, I wasn't reading Broken Angels for this reason, but for the cyberpunk/mystery twist. As I mentioned earlier, the mystery is there, but not the private investigator angle.
Despite these misgivings, I enjoyed the novel. I recommend it as a solid read. The strength of Kovac's character and the detailed futuristic vision of sleeving and the well crafted worlds are Morgan's strengths.
Those strengths are more than enough to overcome the weakness of the storyline.
In fact, I'm going to purchase the next Kovacs' novel.
Enjoy,
Nicole
As it was, because I hadn't read the book first, I took Blade Runner at face value. Watching Harrison Ford fall for an android and witnessing the one thing he was sent to slay, save him, and thus redeeming and arguing (at least to me), the desire to be allowed to "exist."
So, when I came across Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan, I felt those same shivers of joy and a strong wave of nostalgia crash into me. For those not familiar with Altered Carbon, let me just say that this novel sank in its hook and hung me out to dry. Left dangling and unable to free myself from its clutches, I read Altered Carbon in a matter of hours--not days, hours.
Morgan's Takeshi Kovacs was a man I wanted to give my entire being, but for only one night. I couldn't quite trust him, and that made me want to watch everything he did...
Which kept me reading. It was Ghost in the Shell:Stand Alone Complex, Morgan style. Cyberpunk with a mystery twist--as a lover of both genres, this was heaven on earth.
The story was fast paced and action packed. This cyberpunk/mystery hybrid fed all of my favorite genres' mouths with one thick serving of superb writing, sharp dialogue (eat your heart out Robert B. Parker) and a mystery with so many freakin' turns, my neck hurt from the whiplash.
And it was with a happiness and glee that I purchased, Broken Angels, the second Takeshi Kovacs title. This time, Morgan had transplanted Kovacs to a war in another part of the solar system. Kovacs is in a different sleeve (body) and is still up to his usual ways.
Sort of.
Like its predecessor, Broken Angels contains sharp dialogue, action sequences to die for and a charismatic lead character with sex appeal to subtle and potent it's a weapon in and of itself. Kovacs remains a man to watch--closely. He's untrustworthy and switches sides as he seems fit and it solely looking out for number one (in most cases). He's got his own moral code to which he follows rigidly. The fact that he has a code at all endures him to this reader.
I love a good mystery, and Morgan sets up a very good one in Broken Angels. I kept reading, and hoping with devoted longings the story would make good on the superb Martian artifact and Kovac's wiliness.
Unfortunately, without the on-going mystery noir element of Altered Carbon, Broken Angels falls a bit flat.Though the very mention of Kovacs was hook enough for me, the complete shift from Kovacs the hired private investigator to Kovacs the hired soldier shouldn't have been too difficult a transition, Morgan somehow loses the thread of the tale right around the middle of the book.
Alas, when the novel finally arrives at its climax, I'm a bit let down. The story transitions from its cyberpunk roots to a true/blue alien science fiction story, one straight out of Star Trek.
Don't get me wrong. I love Star Trek and consider myself a Trekkie at heart.
However, I wasn't reading Broken Angels for this reason, but for the cyberpunk/mystery twist. As I mentioned earlier, the mystery is there, but not the private investigator angle.
The ending probably should've ended about 25 pages before it actually did, but the ending was strong. Morgan could've cut those 25 pages and retained the ending.
Despite these misgivings, I enjoyed the novel. I recommend it as a solid read. The strength of Kovac's character and the detailed futuristic vision of sleeving and the well crafted worlds are Morgan's strengths.
Those strengths are more than enough to overcome the weakness of the storyline.
In fact, I'm going to purchase the next Kovacs' novel.
Enjoy,
Nicole
